£1.7m now enough for Leeds to sign player who rejected them 6 years ago

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Leeds United may need to part with just £1.7 million to bring Sweden under 21 goalkeeper Noel Tornqvist to the Championship from Mjallby AIF. 

That is according to Tipsbladet, speculation over the talented young shot-stopper growing almost by the day ahead of the winter window. 

Leeds United sent scouts to watch Noel Tornqvist in the flesh recently. Mjallby’s sporting director Hasse Larsson seemingly confirmed ‘interest’ from Elland Road in the aftermath. A number of Italian-based clubs have been watching Tornqvist too. Ditto a Copenhagen outfit who have already agreed to sell one-time Liverpool prospect Kamil Grabara to Wolfsburg for nearly £12 million and are hot on the heels of a replacement. 

Leeds United like Noel Tornqvist

Tipsbladet report that, with clubs in at least three different countries threatening to spark a bidding war, Mjallby are hopeful that Tornqvist will soon become the biggest export in their history.

But fear not, Leeds United fans. Mjallby are not a club used to windfalls. £1.7 million is potentially enough to secure Tornqvist’s services. 

21-year-old Tornqvist forced his way into the Mjallby XI a year ago. He now has three caps for Sweden at U21 level.

This 6ft 6ins giant of a shot-stopper, should Tornqvist move to Elland Road, would likely act as an understudy behind Ilan Meslier and a potential long-term replacement for the much-admired Frenchman. 

Tornqvist, interestingly, is not a new name on Leeds’ radar either.  

Swedish goalkeeper rejected Leeds six years ago

Speaking to Varlden Inag recently, Tornqivst admitted that he was offered a trial in Yorkshire six years ago. He opted to stay in Scandinavia at the time as he felt it would boost his hopes of first-team football. 

“When I was 15 years old, I was invited to a trial, training with Leeds in England,” Tornqvist explains. “I’m a family guy. Today, I can look back and see that it was probably the right decision for me.”  

Should Leeds pick up where they left off in the New Year, however, Tornqvist could make a very different decision this time around.

“I grew up with the English Premier League, with matches at four o’clock (Swedish time) on Saturdays. The atmosphere in the English arenas is something very special. To reach one of the top five leagues in Europe… that is probably my biggest dream.”